National Consultant - Gender Expert

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women was established in July 2010 as part of the United Nations reform agenda to enhance gender equality and empower women globally. The organization merges the efforts of four previously distinct parts of the UN system that focused on gender issues, namely DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW, and UNIFEM. UN Women operates in numerous countries, working closely with national partners to eliminate discrimination against women and girls, empower women, and achieve equality between genders. The organization is dedicated to strengthening legal, policy, and institutional frameworks to advance gender equality and prevent violence against women and girls. UN Women collaborates with state institutions, civil society organizations, and international partners to translate global commitments into actionable policies at the national level, ensuring that countries are equipped to implement inclusive strategies that uphold women's rights.

Job Overview:
The National Consultant will play a crucial role in supporting the development of a draft National Action Plan aimed at implementing the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence. This consultancy is part of UN Women's broader mission to advance gender equality and strengthen normative frameworks. The consultant will work closely with UN Women and relevant national stakeholders to ensure that the Action Plan is comprehensive and actionable. The assignment will involve conducting a targeted desk review of existing national frameworks, facilitating stakeholder consultations, and developing a draft Action Plan that includes clear objectives, activities, and monitoring arrangements. The consultant will also be responsible for identifying institutional roles and coordination mechanisms necessary for the effective implementation of the Convention, ensuring that the Action Plan aligns with international standards and addresses the specific needs and gaps within the Armenian context.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will undertake several key tasks, including:

• Conducting a targeted desk review and analysis of the national framework and the Council of Europe Convention requirements, identifying key priorities, gaps, and areas requiring attention in the national Action Plan.
• Supporting and facilitating stakeholder consultations with government institutions, civil society organizations, and women's rights organizations to gather insights on priorities and proposed actions.
• Developing a comprehensive draft Action Plan that outlines objectives, priority areas, activities, responsible institutions, timelines, indicators, and monitoring arrangements.
• Clarifying the roles and responsibilities of relevant institutions in preparing for ratification and implementation of the Convention, proposing coordination and accountability mechanisms.
• Creating a practical monitoring and reporting framework to enable systematic tracking of progress in implementing the Action Plan.
• Presenting the draft Action Plan to UN Women and stakeholders for validation, incorporating feedback, and finalizing the document along with a summary report of the consultation process.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (at least a Master's) in gender studies, human rights, law, social sciences, public policy, international development, or a related field. Alternatively, a first-level university degree combined with 7 years of qualifying experience may be accepted. Additionally, candidates should have at least 5 years of relevant professional experience in gender equality and women's rights, with a strong understanding of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women. Proven experience in developing national strategies, action plans, and policies in the field of gender equality is essential, along with strong analytical, drafting, facilitation, and communication skills. Familiarity with the Armenian legal and policy context related to gender equality is highly desirable.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (Master's level) in gender studies, human rights, law, social sciences, public policy, international development, or a relevant field is required. A first-level university degree may be accepted in combination with extensive relevant experience.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience with a Master's degree or at least 7 years with a Bachelor's degree in the field of gender equality and women's rights. Experience in providing gender mainstreaming support to various stakeholders is also required, along with demonstrated knowledge of international and regional standards related to preventing violence against women.

Languages:
Fluency in Armenian and English is mandatory for this position. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset but is not required.

Additional Notes:
This consultancy is home-based and will take place from September 20 to October 30, 202

• The consultant will be expected to deliver several key outputs, including an inception report, desk review, stakeholder consultation summary, draft Action Plan, and final Action Plan with a summary report. The position is part-time, and candidates should be prepared for potential travel if required for stakeholder consultations.